Lamp shade supporting device



April 18, 1933. w. N DE SHERBNN 1,903,985

LAMP SHADE SUPPORTING DEVICE Original Filed March 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 10 1 41 ATTORNEYS April 18, 1933. 1,903,985

W. N. DE SHERBININ LAMP SHADE SUPPORTING DEVICE Original Filed March 9, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Wmdd- M4 Mb ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 18, 1933 u 5 UNITED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM N. pr. snn'nnmm, or nasrmes' pron 'nnnson, NEW Yonx LAMP SHADE SUPPORTING DEVICE Application filed' March 9, 1929, Serial No. 345,711. Itcnewed'August 20, 1982.

. My invention relates to a device or mem on or by a lamp bulb, or equivalent.

By my invention, there is provided a de vice member which is inexpensive, simple and durable. r

Further objects and advantages of my invention will more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

My invention resides in the article, device, member, novel features ofconstruction and combination of parts which will hereafter be shown by way of examplein some oftheir preferred forms.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lamp shade and a device adapting the same for support by a lamp bulb; x

Fig. 2' is a side elevational view of a lamp bulb socket and its supportingmember;

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of a lamp bulb, its socket and a supporting member therefor, the lamp bulb supporting the lamp shade, the latter being shown in section;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of looking or latching mechanism utilizable in connection with the supporting device illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is'a perspective view corresponding with Fig. 1 and illustrating another type of lamp shade fixture and a supporting member therefor; c

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of a lamp bulb, its socket and a lamp shade supporting member; y Fig. 7 is aside elevational view of a lamp bulb, its socket'and the supporting member therefor; and r Fig. 8 is a perspective view illustrating locking or latching mechanism utilizable with the supporting device illustrated in- Fig. 5. Lamp shades to be associated with one or more incandescent lamp bulbs come in a va riety of types, patterns and effects and each has a fitting of some' kind for supporting the same in a desired position. Such fittings have become standardized and there are but few types in widespread commercial use. In accordance with my invention, there are provided articles, devices or members, differing in details,- butv designed to coact with any of I character comprises a ring I interiorly threaded and disposed substantially central- 1y of the shade S, rods or members 2 projecting from said ring 1 and being suitably secured to the shad S.

Referring to Fig. 2, there is illustrated,by way of example, the upper. curved end 3. of thestandard a bridge lamp, said member 3 carrying a lamp socket 4 of any suitable I type. The lamp socket 4 comprises the usual switch actuating member 5 and, in the exam.- ple shown, is provided, at itsextremity, with an external threaded sectionfi. I

A shade of the character illustrated in Fig. 1 isadaptedtobe associated with and carried by the socket 4i and, as well understood, this end is attained by associating the ring 1 with, the threaded section 6 ofsaid socket 4, the shade S projecting beyond the latterend enclosing a lamp bulb, not shown, but received in the open end of socket 4. I

In accordance with my invention, a device M is secured to the ring 1,. Fig. 1, and is utilized for supporting the shade S, not on a lamp socket, but directly on a lamp bulb B supported, for-example, as illustrated in Fig. 3, where said lamp bulb B is shown as threaded into a lamp socket 7 embodying a switch member 8and supported by a standard 9 upstanding from a base 10.

As herein illustrated, the device M is formed from wire-like material and comprises spaced, circumferentially incomplete, prong-forming loops a, a disposed in sideby-side relation, the ends of each loop terminating in the respective sections 7), curved outwardly from the loop axis, each pair of adjacent sections Z) being transversely joined by the respective sections 0.

The device M, preferably, but not necessarily, is formed from a single length. of wire, the ends thereof being suitably joined together, for example, in abutting relation and by a welding operation. Thereafter, the wire loop is suitably manipulated or formed to produce a device M of the generalcharacter illustrated in Fig. 1. Finally, the formed device may be elevated in tempera ture and then plunged into an oil bath to renderthe same highly resilient or spring-like in character. However, if desired, the afore said device M may be formed from material which, previously, has been tempered, either partly or entirely. In any event, there is produced a member or device M, Fig. 1, the loops a, a of which preferably converge toward each other in an upward direction,

Fig. 1;, opposite sides of each loop also, preferably, converging toward each other as il l-ustrated.

When the device M is to be associated with the ring 1-', manual compression is employed to move the transverse sections 0, 0 toward each other. The device M may then be placed in the position shown and the transverse sections 0, apermitted to move from eachother, said sections 0, c and the curved sections 79 coming to rest inposition overlyingthe upper surface of ring 1 and the loops a, at extending downwardly through said ring 1. The arrangement is such, with the parts positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1, that the loops a, a are still under tension and, accordingly, the ring 1 is gripped in a firm and unyielding manner.

WVith the device M positioned as illus trated in Fig. 1-, the loops at, a are in equilibrium along a line A entending therebetween. However, said loops a, a may be moved manually from each other along said line A and then passed over the bulb B, Fig. 3, whereupon, when released, they will firmly and securely grip said bulb B and similarly hold the shade S in the proper position there around.

Ordinarily, the device M remains in the position illustrated in 1 solely under the influence of its spring action. However, under some circumstances it may be desirable to more positively retain said device M in the position shown and. if so, there may be utilized latch mechanism of suitable char acter such, for example, as shown in'Fig. d where a member L, pivoted to one of the transverse members 0 is provided with a hook w engageable with the other transverse member 0, said member L, if desired, also 1 except that it is of smaller diameter and is not threaded on its interior surface. As was the case with the member 1, member 12 is secured in the position illustrated by rods or members 2 extending toward and secured to shade S. 1

Referring to Fig. 6, there is illustrated, by way of example, atable lamp T which may comprise the usual base 18 from which;

projects a standard 1a carrying, at its upperond, a lamp socket 15 having the usual switch actuatingmember 16 and, having a threaded passage for the reception of the lamp bulb B 1. As is customary, the standard 14' may carry a shade supporting structure or harp 1'7 terminating, at its upper surface. in: a flat faced flange 17a having-projecting therebeyond a threaded stem 17?) for the reception of a knob or cap 18;

Upon removalof the cap 18, the shade S. Fig. 5,, may be brought to such position with respect to the harp 17 that the member 12 rests upon the flange 17a with the threaded stem passing through the perforation of member 12. Thereupon, cap 18 may be socured to the stem 17?) to positively retain the shade S in position on the. table lamp T. This is in accordance with well known practice.

In accordance with, my invention, the shade S and its member 12. Fig. 5, may be associated directly with and supported, not

on the table-lamp T, but directly on the lamp bulb B, Fig. 7, the lamp structure illustrated in Fig. 7 corresponding with the structure shown in Fig. 3.

To this end, there may be utilized a device Ml. Fig. 5, corresponding somewhat with the hereinbefore described device Maud therefore comprising spaced. circumferentially incomplete, prong-forming loops. a1, (L1 disposed in side-by-side relation. adjacent sidesof the respective loops being secured together as indicated at; biz, 61. As was the case with the device M, the device M1, pref erably, is formed from a single length of wire, the ends thereof being si-iitably joined together, as by a welding operation and it may be tempered either before orafter the forming operation. In its completed state, the loops a1, a1 preferably converge toward each other in an upward direction, Fig. 5, opposite sides of each loop converging toward each other as illustrated.

In response to a manual compressing action, the curved ends 721, 51 of device M1 may be moved toward each other and in I with the shade S as illustrated in Fig. 5, the

depending loop sections thereof may be associated with the lamp bulb B, Fig. 7, to thereby hold said lamp shade S in cooperative'relation with respect to the lamp bulb enclosed thereby.

Referring to Fig. 8, the device M1 is shown as carrying supplementary latching mechanism which may or may not be utilized as desired. As illustrated, such latching mechanism comprises a member L1 having arms of resilient material which are passed beneath the respective curved sections 791.

It shall be understood that the lamp bulb,

with which is directly associated a shade supporting device or member constructed in accordance with my invention, may be mounted in difierent ways from that herein disclosed. Thus,'for example, the lamp bulb thus to be utilized may depend from some supporting structure instead of being carried by a standard extending from a base.

It shall also be understood that the devices or members M and M1 need not necessarily be formed from single lengths of material and further, it shall be understood, thatthe lamp bulb B,.Figs. 5 and 7, may be gripped otherwise than by the resilient loops or prongs of the respective devices M and M1.

It shall also be understood that members or devices directly engaged with and supported by lamp bulbs may be utilized in connection with shade fixtures of a character specifically different from the Uno and washer type illustrated, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 5.

From some of its aspects, my invention is not to be limited to 'a member, as the devices M or M1 supported directly by a lamp bulb. Thus, for example, said devices may be so formed as to be supported directly by the socket 7 of Figs. 3 and 7 for example.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain particular preferred examples which give satisfactory results, it will be understood by those skilled in the art after understanding the invention, that various changes and modifications may be What is claimed as new and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. The combination with a shade, and an apertured supporting member secured thereto substantially centrally'thereof, of a device adapting said shade for support by a lamp bulb, said device comprising plural-member sections extending through said supporting member and biased from each otherto'ward and into engagement with said supporting member, the members of the respective sections being joined together.

2. The combination with a shade, and a ring-shaped member disposed substantially centrally thereof for detachable association with a supporting member, of means adapting said shade for support by a. lamp bulb, said means comprising spaced arms projecting from said ring-shaped member'and' contacting. directly therewith, and means for locking said spaced arms to said ring-shaped member, said last named means comprising a latch pivoted to one of said spaced arms.

3. An article of the character described comprising spaced, circumferentially incomplete loops disposed in .side-by-side relation, 7

adjacent sides of each loop being transversely joined together, said article being formed from a single length of wire resilient to a high degree, and a latch coacting with said adjacent sides in the region where they are transversely joined.

4:. The combination with a shade, and an apertured supporting member secured thereto, of a device adapting said shade for support by a lamp bulb, said device comprising sections extending through and overlying said supporting member, said device comprising sections adaptedto' be biased intoen agement with a lamp bulb, the sections 0 said device being connected together and said device being readily detachable as a unit from said supporting member.

5. The combination with a shade, and an apertured supporting member secured thereto substantially centrally thereof, of a device adapting said shadefor support by a lamp bulb, said device comprising sections extending axially through said supporting member, said sections being joined together and biased from each other toward and into engagement with opposite sides of said sup-- porting member, said sections terminating in parts overlying said supporting member made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and it is intended therefore in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications. 

